Page 52 of Prize for the King
I fight my blush, though I’ve heard so many improper comments over the last few days, this one doesn’t stump me as much. But something in Magnar’s reply clamors for my attention until I finally pinpoint it.
“Wait.‘We’?”
Magnar growls, looking up.
“Khay? You said you explained about the wedding night?”
Khay laughs uncomfortably, sounding sheepish. “Well, I was sort of building up to it. Leaving hints, and like… Trying not to scare her. You said it yourself, she’s afraid of our dicks. If she hears she might have to take four…”
The sound that falls out of my mouth is something akin to a sob, or maybe a giggle. Khay swears, and Magnar sighs in exasperation, thewarm scent of cloves enveloping my face. He puts his arm around my shoulders and straightens as much as he can while holding me.
“Thank you, Khay. I think we’re all a bit crazy with lust these days, but your brain seems to be the most addled. Caliane, would you do me the honor of riding with me today? I’ll explain everything.”
There goes another day of trying to grieve, I think gloomily as I follow Magnar outside, dread and a sick sort of excitement curling in my belly. My steps fall into a hypnotizing rhythm that I can’t shake off.
Take four. Take four. Take four.
Horses wait in the courtyard, saddled and ready. Magnar stops in front of his mount and turns me until I face it, his hands on my waist.
“Oh, right. I’m going to lift you now.”
I am honestly surprised that he remembered my complaint. Magnar puts me in the saddle and heaves himself behind me, pressing me to him at once. I gasp when our bodies mold together, and he takes a deep breath, sighing with relief.
“Fuck, I missed you.”
I have no answer to this, my chest tightening with the familiar guilt layering on top of ridiculous longing. I forced myself not to think about the way he kissed me all day yesterday, and it frayed my nerves while also convincing me how horrid I am.
A proper princess would have loathed the kiss and him. Ilovedit.
As we cross the moat, it starts drizzling, the clouds heavy and uniform above us. Magnar sighs and leans over to a saddlebag, producing a cloak that he tucks in around me. It’s large enough to cover us both, the wide hood on his head.
“Take off your hat and lean back into me. I’ll shield you from the rain.”
I do as he says and find myself as snug and comfortable as one can be while riding. Magnar holds me to him with a firm arm pressed to my collarbones as we ride through the soaked landscape, thegreenery verdant against the gray skies.
“So, the wedding night,” I say, sounding calmer than I feel.
“Our knights are going to be in the room,” Magnar says without preamble.
I frown. “In the room, while we… mate?”
“Mate, couple, fuck, make love. Yes.”
I shiver at his choice of words, and a familiar hardness greats my buttocks. Magnar sighs and tugs me into him until I bounce against it with the horse’s every step, and he releases a long, satisfied breath.
“Does this bring you relief?” I ask uncertainly.
“Mmm. Yes. Also makes it worse. As I was saying, they are going to be in the room and witness the consummation of our marriage. It’s a sacred tradition.”
I shiver. The thought of being watched by the knights as he mounts me makes my face heat. I’m not sure whether I hate it or not. My belly flutters with anxious excitement.
“After I fuck you,” Magnar says with a grunt, his voice lowering into a rumbling growl, “you can invite your knights to partake of you, as well.”
“P-partake?” my voice comes out high-hitched as Khay’s toothy smile flashes before my eyes. “It sounds like they might eat me.”
“Certainly,” Magnar says. “If you wish for it, they will lick and taste every part of you until you’re satisfied. But there is a caveat. It you invite your knights to bed with us, they will be free to fuck you. All of them. You can’t pick and choose in this regard. If you want their mouths, you’ll get their cocks, as well. It’s either all or none.”
We ride in silence for a while as I try to make sense of the arousing, horrifying chaos of Magnar’s explanation. He seems to be content bouncing me against his straining… cock… which gives me plenty of time to think.
